Staple driving machine



, Aug. 5, 1941. F. PoLzER Erm.

STAPLE DRIVING MACHINE 3 Sfeets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1938l|IIIIl|IIIINIIIIIIIIIIHIIHNIIIIIIH 64 Aug. 5, 1941. F. PoLzER Erm.

STAPLE DRIVING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 all;

TTORNEY5` l Patented Aug. 5, 1941 s'rAPLE DRIVING MACHINE FridolinPolzer, Lester L. Wheeler, and Roy E. Peterson, Norwalk, Conn.,assignors to The E. H. Hotchkiss Company, Norwalk, Conn., a corporationof Connecticut Application May 25, 1938, Serial No.1209,886

19 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in staple .drivingmachines.

An object oi' the invention is to provide a staple-driving machine ofgenerally improved appearance.

Another object is to provide a staple driving machine including anarrangement whereby loading of the machine with staples may be easilyand quickly accomplished from the front of the machine.

Another object is to provide a staple driving machine and improvedconstruction of safety means preventing a second staple entering theraceway of the machine until after the rst staple entering the racewayhas been driven therefrom.

A further object is to provide a staple driving machine adapted Ifor useeither as a stapling machine or as a tacker.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein satisfactory embodiments of the inventionare shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations andmodifications as fall Within the scope of the invention and of theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the complete machine;

Fig. la. is a transverse section substantially on line la-ia of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view as along the linl 2-2 of Fig. 1 on a somewhatenlarged scale, but with the staple guide bar in projected position forloading of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view looking from the lower side of Fig. 2 but with the headof the machine shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken as along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detailed side elevational view of the front portion of thestaple guide bar showing the manner in which the same may be loaded fromfront end; l

Fig. 6 is an end view looking into the guide bar as from the left inFig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the construction of thefollower means of the l machine;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, also on an enlarged scale, of such followermeans;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view showing the anvil which may be employed whenthe machine is used as a stapling machine;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the front portion of the base, theyielding foot piece or block being omitted whereby the manner in whichthe anvil is mounted may be better illustrated;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view as along the line II-Ii of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is the longitudinal sectional view through a modifiedconstruction of staple driving machine;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view as along the line I3-I3 of Fig. 12 but withthe staple guide bar projected as when it is to be loaded with staples;

Fig. 14 is a view looking from the lower side of Fig. 13 but with thehead portion of the machine shown in section longitudinally of themachine;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view as along the line |5-i5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing the relation ofthe guide bar to other portions of the head of the machine;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as along the linell-I'I of Fig. 12;

Fig. 18 is an elevational View of the forward portion of 'the guide barof the machine and showing the manner in which such bar may be loadedfrom its front end;

Fig. 19 is an elevational view looking into the front end of the guidebar as it is illustrated in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a front elevational view of the head of the machine;

Fig. 21 is a side elevational view of the forward portion of the head ofthe machine;

Fig. 22 is a front elevational view of a locking plate or memberemployed;

Fig. 23 is a front perspective view of the driver of the machine;

Fig. 24 is a front perspective view of a wear plate to be disposed overthe driver;

Fig. 25 is a plan view of the rear end portion of the staple guide barremoved from the machine;

Fig. 26 is a vertical longitudinal section through the front lowerportion of the housing of the machine similar to Fig. 1 and on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 27 is a similar section of the rear portion of the machine;

Fig. 28 is a section similar to the rear portion gi' Fig. 3 on a largerscale and showing the follower just before it reaches the limit of itsforward movement when the staple guide is drawn forwardly:

Fig. 29 is a detail section of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the stapledriving plunger in locked position;

Fig. 30 is asection on an enlarged scale similar to Fig. 4 but showingthe position of the locking device when the plunger is in its upwardmovement after being fully depressed :I

Fig. 31 is a side elevation of the rear end portion of the staple guidebar of Figs. 1, `2 and 3;

Fig. 32 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale substantially online 32-32 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 33 is a transverse sectionon an enlarged scale substantially online 33-33 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 34 is an exploded view of the front portion of the housing of theform of device shown in Fig. 12 indicating how the inner housing may beremoved from .the outer housing.

Fig. 35 is a transverse section of a modified form of staple guide bar,and staple used therewith shown in elevation.

Referring in detail'to the drawings, and at first more particularly tothe form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 11, the machine as.there disclosed comprises a main upper portion or body generallydesignated I and a base II with which said body is associated when themachine is being used as a stapling machine. 'I'he body I8 and base IIare detachably connected whereby the former may readily be removed fromthe base and used as a tacker when desired.

Body I0 includes a sheet metal housing comprising a top wall portion I2and side walls I3, the housing in transverse section being substantiallyof inverted U-shape. Located between the lower edge portions of housingwalls I3 is an elongated tubular member I4 rectangular in transversesection as shown in Fig. 4. Member I4 may be welded or otherwise securedto the walls I3, and is preferably bent up of sheet metal and soarranged that its bottom wall I5 comprises the edge portions of thesheet from which it is bent, such edge portions being somewhat spacedapart to provide a channel I6 extending for the length of the member.

Member I4 extends from the rear wall I1 of the body housing -to a pointat the inner side of the raceway I8 (Fig. 1) of the machine. Within saidmember is a U-shaped staple guide bar I9 longitudinally movable in themember and provided on its underside with lugs 20, which may be pressedfrom the metal of the guide bar, and which are normally disposed in thechannel I6 above referred to whereby movement of the guide bar relativeto member I4 is limited and guided.

Extending through the guide bar I9 is a rod 2| the rear end of which isfixed to the housing wall I1 at 22 (Fig. 1) and said rod extends forsubstantially the entire length of the guide bar. About the rod is acoil spring 23 which functions to urge a follower 24 forwardly along theguide bar and feed staples forwardly to driving position. Such followeris of inverted U-shape and straddles .the upper side of the guide barwhereby as it moves forwardly along the latter it will push staplesalong the guide bar toward the raceway I8. Follower 24 is provided inits top wall toward its forward end with an opening 25 (Figs. 'I and 8)immediately rearwardly of which is a strap-like portion 26 followed byan opening 21, the rear edge of which last opening is defined by theforward edge 28 of a depressed portion 29 of the top wall leading to therear end of the follower.

On the follower is a member 30 having an upstanding forwardend 3ftherear side of which ls curved or bevelled as at 32. The rear end ofmember 38 comprises a pair of spaced apart depending portions 33straddling the rod 2l and against which the forward end of spring 23presses. As clearly shown in Fig. l the member 3 0 includesaportion-disposed on the depressed portion 2li of the top wall of thefollower and a portion 34 located under the follower strap portion 26,while the upturned forward end 3I of the member projects through theopening 25 in the follower.

Obviously, the spring 23 pressing against the portions 33 of member 30and the latter being mounted on the follower, the spring is constantlytending to move the follower forwardly along the guide bar I9. It isalso noted that the member 30 may rock on the follower about the edge 28of the portion 29 of the latter whereby the upstanding forward end 3I ofthe member may move downwardly or inwardly with respect to the follower.'I'he purpose of this arrangement will later be fully set forth.

Mounted in the forward portion of the body I0 is an upright U-shapedmember 35 (Figs. 1 and 2) which may be welded or otherwise secured inplace and which receives and acts as a guide for a plunger 36. Suchplunger is vertically movable and is normally held in the elevated orretracted position of Fig. 1 by 'coil spring 31. At its forward sideplunger 36 is provided with a lug 38 entering an opening in a driverplate 39 located between the plunger and the connecting portion 40 ofthe U-shaped member 35. With this arrangement as the plunger is movedthe driver is carried with it, and as the plunger is depressed the lowerportion of the driver is moved downwardly through the raceway orguideway I8 to drive a staple therethrough. Lugs 4I (Figs.

2, 4 and 30) struck up from the side arm portion of U-shaped member 35prevent movement of the plunger and driver in a direction away from wall49.

At its upper end plunger 36 includes a roller 42 bearing against a wearplate 43 at the innerside of an operating member 44. Such operatingmember is adapted to be depressed by pressure of the hand and is locatedbetween the upper forward portions of the housing side wall I3, and inits normal or upwards position forms a continuation of the Atop wall I2of the housing. 'I'he operating member is somewhat in form of aninverted U when viewed in cross section and includes depending sideportions 45 entering between the housing side walls I3, and at theirrear ends such depending portions 45' are notched at 46 to receive aninturned flange 41 at the forward edge of housing wall I2.

Attached to the housing top wall I2, as by a rivet 48, is a flat spring49 projecting forwardly beyond the4 flange 41 and pressing against aplate-like member 50 'carried by the operating member 44. With thisarrangement the spring 49 maintains the notches 46 in position receivingthe flange 41 and the spring has some tendency to return the operatingmember to retracted position when depressed, but for the accomplishmentof this function it is the spring 31 which is relied upon. Toward theirforward ends side portions 45 carry inturned lugs 5I (Figs. l and 4)which engage under shoulders 52 of the plunger whereby the operatingmember is secured to the plunger in such manner as not to have anyappreciable movement independent of the plunger.

Attached to the forward end portion of the guide bar I9 is a U-shapedpiece 53 .the bottom or connecting wall 53a of which is secured againstthe outer side of the corresponding wall of the guide bar, and the sidearms 54 of which are spaced from the side arms of the guide bar (seeFigs. 2 and 6) in a manner to permit of the passage of the legs ofstaples. A U-shaped spring 55 has on the ends of its side arms inwardlybent ears 55a to enter openings 55 in the arms 54 of member 53 whereby'such spring-is susceptible of pivotal movement relative to the member53.

Secured to the connecting portion of spring 55 as by rivets 51 is aplate 58 which when the spring is in a position of Figs. 1 and 2 islocated opposite the forward end of guide bar I9 and so forms in effecta continuation of the wall 40` and defines the forward side of theraceway I8. Since this plate 58 is held in place by the spring 55 only,it will be understood that should an oversized staple or staple of athicker wire enter the raceway the spring will yield to permit the plate58 to move outwardly from normal position under action of the staple topermit of such oversized staple being forced through the raceway by thedriver 39. The spring 55 is bent inwardly at 55h to permit this.

Notches 59 (Figs. 1, 26 and 31,'are formed in the upper edges of theside walls of the guidebar adjacent the rear end thereof, and normallythe lower end vportion of a pawl 50 enters such notches whereby to holdthe guide bar in place in its normal position of Fig. 1 within thehousing. Pawl 50 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 5I and toward itsforward end carries a button 52 projecting through an opening in thehousing top wall I2. A coil spring 53-engages the pawl and normallymaintains it in the position of Fig. 1 wherein the pawl is functioningto maintain the guide bar in a retracted position with its forward endso located that the raceway I8 is aligned with thedriver 39.

When a supply of staples on the guide bar has been exhausted theoperator depresses button 52 so as to rock the pawl 55 into a positionremoving Vits lower end from the notches 59 in the guide bar. Thereuponthe spring 23 acting through the follower 24 causes the entire guide barto -move forwardly, because when there are staples on the guide bar theyare pressed against the front wall 55 by the follower 24 under action ofspring 23,and when there are no staples on the bar the forward end offollower 24 presses against the wall 58, and the operator may grasp thespring 55 and draw the guide bar out to the position of Figs. 2 and 3.

As the guide bar is being drawn outwardly through the front end ofmember I4, the upturned toelike portion 3| of the member 30 is ridingagainst the undersurface of the top wall of member I4 and such member 30is slightly tilted as in the dotted line position of Fig. 1 and fullline positions of Figs. 26 and 28. Adjacent its front end the top wallof member I4 is provided with an opening 58 (Figs. 1, 3, 26 and 28), thefront edge of which is flat while its rear edge 56a may be curved ortapered as shown. Therefore, as the guide bar reaches its fully',extended position, the follower 24 also reaches a position where theportion 3| moves into the opening 55 (see Fig. 3 and dotted lines Fig.28) and coming against the forward edge of such opening cannot movefurther and thus forms a stop to limit forward movement of the guide barI9 and prevent its being drawn clear from the housing as the shouldersI9a (Figs. 28 and 31). Also shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the top edges ofguide bar I9 engage the rear end of the follower 24. The spring 23bearing against the portions 33 is constantly trying to r'ock the member30 into the position of Figs. 3 and '7. The guide bar being thusexposed, staples may be dropped vertically onto it in positionsstraddling it. In Fig. 3 the staples 54 are about to be dropped ontotheV may be moved onto the guide bar over the front end thereof assuggested by the arrow 55a in Fig. 5.

The guide bar having been loaded with staples (and the spring 55 havingbeen returned to the full line position of Fig. 2 if it has been movedfrom such position) the guide bar is pushed back into the member I4, andwhen it reaches the proper position the spring 53 will influence thepawl 58 to rock it to the position of Fig. 1 securing the guide bar insuch proper position. The U-shaped piece 53 at the forward end of theguide bar may be provided with a lug 51 to enter the forward end of thechannel I5 in order to insure along with the lugs 20 that the guide baris in proper alignment within the member I4.

The guide bar being back in position, operating member or hand piece 44may be depressed to move driver 39 through the raceway to drive a stapletherefrom, it being understood that the follower 24 is constantly urgingthe staples'along the guide bar toward such raceway. Means are providedto prevent a second staple from entering the raceway until after thefirst staple to enter it has been driven from it. This means, as heredisclosed, includes a pawl 58 (Figs. 1 and 4) loosely pivoted on a rod59 about which is coiled a portion of a spring having an arm 10 bearingagainst a base plate 1I and having an arm 12 engaging the pawl. Thetendency of the spring acting through its arm 12 is to press the pawlagainst the rear wall of the plunger 35. Such rear wall has an opening13 adjacent which is a projection or cam 14 having a flat inclined side15 and a curved side 11.

As the plunger moves downwardly the opening 13 comes opposite the hookedend of pawl 58 and the spring tends to move such pawl end into theopening. Should the plunger be driven only a portion of a stroke thedriver will carry a. staple only part way through the raceway I8. If theoperating member 44 is then released, as the pawl 58 has remained inalignment with the opening 13 its upper hooked end will engage the loweredge of the opening 13 as shown in Fig. 29 and prevent completeretraction of the plunger and driver so that the lower end of the driverwill remain partly across the forward end of the guide bar and prevent asecond staple entering the raceway.

If the plunger is moved downward to its lowest position the hooked upperend of the pawl 58 shown 'in Fig. 15) and is swung somewhat to the lefttensioning the spring 12. When the plunger reaches its lowermostposition, which is' its position when the driving of the staple iscompleted, the upper end of cam 14 is below the hook of the pawl. 'I'hetensionedspring 12 then swings the upper hooked end of the pawl to theright to carry the hook over the curved right hand side 11 of the cam,and which is the position shown in Fig. 30. Therefore, as the plungerstarts its return movement the surface 11 of the cam moves under thehooked end of the pawl and moves it to the right thus keeping such end-away from the opening 13 so that it cannot engage the lower edge ofthis opening to thus stop upward movement of the plunger. The plunger,therefore, is allowed to complete its return or upward movement,whereupon the lower end of surface 11 moving past the pawl, the latterreturns to the normal position of `Figs. 1 and 4. The pawl 68 may be aspring member to permit the hooked upper end to have this lateralmovement and to return it to the normal position after the hook passesthe lower end of the cam.

In short the left hand side 16 of cam 14 keeps the hook of the pawl inalignment with the opening 13 in the plunger until the plunger reachesits lowermost position to complete driving of the staple. Therefore ifthe plunger is released before it is operated to this position the hookon the pawl will engage the lower edge of opening 13 as the plungermoves upwardly and prevents its moving to its fully retracted or normalupper position. On the other hand if the plunger is operated to itslowermost position the upper end of cam 14 is below the hook of the pawland this hook is swung to the right by spring 12 to a position over andin alignment with the right hand side 11 of the cam. Then as the plungerrises this wall 11 shifts the hook to the right out of alignment withthe lower edge of opening 13 so that it cannot engage this edge toarrest upward movement of the plunger, and the plunger is permitted tomove to its uppermost or normal position.

As above suggested, when the machine is to be used as a. staplingmachine the body and the parts carried thereby are mounted on the baseSuch base includes an elongated body 18 which may be formed of sheetmetal, and it is open in its upper side toward its rear end and at eachside of such opening is provided with upstanding ears 19. Such earscarry a pin 80 (Figs. 1, 1a and 27) spanning the opening. Secured to thebase body as by means 8| is a at spring 82 having an end portion 83protruding through such opening so as to be disposed between the ears19.

Welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the member I4 (Figs. l,la and 27) adjacent to the rear thereof is a housing mounting meanscomprising an inverted U-shaped member including a connecting portion 84and a pair of side arms or portions 85. Arms 85 are each provided with abayonet slot 86 and are so spaced apart as to be receivable between theears 19. When the housing is to be mounted on the base the open ends ofthe slots 86 are aligned with the pin 80 and at such time the loweredges of the arms 85 are in engagement with the projecting end of thespring 83. 'Ihen the whole rear portion of the housing is forceddownwardly and the housing shifted forwardly to locate the pin 80 in theclosed end portions of the slots 86. This is as shown in Figs. 1 and 27and the spring 82 is ten- 2,251,833 moves amng the1eft hand side 16 ofcam 14 (as sioned maintaining the housing on the base, and the springalso normally maintains the forward portion of the housing spaced abovean anvil 81 by pressing on the lug 85a or the edges of arms 85 forwardlyof the pivot pin 80.

The forward portion of base is bowed or crowned and includes anintermediate portion 88 (Figs. 1, 9, l0 and 11) which is depressed andlbetween its ends provided with transverse channels or grooves 89 (Fig.1). At opposite sides of such portion are slots which may be describedas arranged in two pairs designated 90 and 9| (Fig. 10). The anvil 81carries leg-like portions 92 (Fig. 33) projecting downwardly through theslots 9|. Also, the anvil carries legs 93 projecting through the slotsand such legs 93 include forwardly directed portions 94 (Figs. 1 andl10) spaced from the wall of the base and somewhat hook-shaped.

Located at the underside of the base is a spring having end portions 96received by the hooklike arm portions 94 and such spring includesforwardly and rearwardly directed arms 91 and 98 (Figs. 1, 9 and 10)which, as shown best in Fig. l, bear against the underside of the base.The tendency of this spring is to hold the anvil 81 down against thedepressed base portion 88. In its upper surface the anvil is providedwith permanent clinching recesses 99 arranged to bend both prongs of thestaple inwardly toward each other and with recesses |00 and |00a thelatter to be used when a staple is to be employed as a temporaryfastener, the recess |00 bending one prong inwardly and the recess |00abending the other prong in the same direction or outwardly. Theformation of these recesses is accomplished in a manner to providedepressed portions |0| at the lower side of the anvil.

When such depressed portions are in the rear pair of the grooves 89 theanvil is so located that the permanent fastening recesses 99 are inalignment with the raceway 8 and when the anvil is slid forwardly tohave the projections |0| in the forward and intermediate groove 89 thetemporary fastener clinching recesses. |00 and |00a are in alignmentwith the raoeway. The spring 95 keeps the anvil against the base portion88 so as to retain the interlocking engagement between these parts, butit will be apparent that it is not a positive but only a frictionalaction. Therefore, the anvil may be manually shifted to one position orthe other as desired, the spring moving with the anvil but bearing atthe ends of its arms 91 and 98 against the underside of the base so thatthe projections at the undersideV of the anvil are snapped into thegrooves 89. 'I'he movement of the anvil is guided by the portions of thebase immediately at the sides of the depressed portion 88 and also tothe location of the legs 92 and 93 in the slots 9| and 90.

At the rear end of the base there is secured a rubber cushioning block|02 and a somewhat similar but larger block |03 is located at the underside of the forward end of the base. Block |03 is provided with openingswhich receive leg-like portions |04 welded or otherwise secured to theunder side of the base at |05. This block 03 is hollow at its upper sideas shown in Figs. 1 and 11 and so does not interfere with movement ofthe spring95 or of the legs 92 and 93 of the anvil. As here shown thelatter toward its rear end is provided with lateral enlargements |06which may be manually engaged when shifting the anvil from one positionto the other.

It will be noted the top surface of anvil 81 is I' t of the upper bodyI0 at convexly curved in a plane transverse to the plane of the staplebeing driven. This insures that the papers or articles being stapled aregripped between the top surface of the anvil and the bottom the plane ofthe staple and closely held tothe staple is being so that they areproperly gether atthe point where driven.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 12 through 25,the same comprises a body generally designated |01 and which may be usedalone as a tacker or which may be detachably connected with the base bymeans of the pin 80 and bayonet slot 86 the same as previously describedin connection with the form of Fig. 1. The body |01 includes a housingformed of sheet metal and comprising a top wall |08 and side Walls |09between which is located a transversely U-shaped sheet metal frameincluding side walls and a bottom wall I I2 which latter rests on thebottom Wall I I3 of the outer housing. This bottom wall ||3 may bebrazed, soldered or welded to the side walls of the housing. Resting onsaid bottom or connecting Wall ||2 is a staple magazine and guide bargenerally designated I |4 (Figs. 12 and 14) and including an innerstaple guide bar ||5 and outer U-shaped or channel bar ||6 (Figs. 13, 14and 17) located one within the other. Such channel bars have theirbottom walls, or connecting portions secured together as by rivets I I1while their side portions are spaced apart to provide channels ||8(Figs. 13 and 19) for the accommodation of the legs of staples placed onand straddling the inner channel bar Straddling the inner channel bar||5 of the guide bar is a follower I I9 formed of sheet metal and ofinverted U-shape, and to the rear portion of which (by any suitablemeans such as a bent up ear ||9a) is connected an end |20 of a flatcoiled spring |2| while the other end of such spring is fixed to a bar|22. The spring is constantly tending to coil about the bar |22 and thusis constantly tending to draw the follower forwardly along the guide barin a manner to urge the staples |23 therealong, whereby to deliver thestaples to a raceway |24 at the forward end of the guide bar.

On the forward end of the guide bar is a U- shaped member generallydesignated |25 and including a front plate or connection portion |26 andside arm portions |21 which latter have on their free end portions ears|21a inturned and disposed in openings |28 in the outer channel member||6 of the guide bar. With this construction the member |25 may be swungfrom the full line position of Fig. 14 to the dotted line position ofthat figure, or to the full line position of Figs. 18 and 19. Thepurpose of this arl.

rangement will later be set forth. Here it is noted that the plate |26forms the forward side of the raceway |24 and that the bent in ends [21aof the arms |21 do not have a tight i-lt in the holes |28 but havelimited movement therein in a direction longitudinally of the guide bar||4. Therefore the entire member may yield forwardly as suggested inFigs. 13 and 14 when a staple of larger diameter wire is being driventhrough the raceway, this however being held in the normal position bythe spring plate |43 as will be later described.

In the forward portion of the housing there is arranged a plunger |29having on its forward side a lug |30 projecting through an opening |3|in a driver plate |32 and also into an opening |33 in a wear plate |34.A closure |35 is disposed over the front end of the housing and includesflange-like side portions |36 which embrace the housing side walls |09.Such side walls include forwardly projecting perforated ears |31(Figs..13 and 20) and the closure |35 includes a forwardly projectingportion |38 through the sides |39 of which pass a pin |40 which pin alsopasses through the ears |31 whereby the closure is secured in place. Thefront edges of the sides ||0 of the inner frame have similar ears |31aat the inner sides of the ears |31 through which the pin |40 alsopasses.

A slot |4| (Fig. 20) opens through the upper end of the closure |35 andthe lower end of the closure is substantially out away providing anopening |42. Opening .|42 aligns with the forward end of the guide bar||4 and when the latter is in normal position within the housing thelower end |43 of a spring locking plate |44 is extending across and inengagement with the connecting portion |26 of the U-shaped member |25and yieldingly holds this member in proper position to form the frontwall of the raceway |24 to help guide the staple being driven. Suchlocking plate is located between the front wall of the closure |35 andthe wear plate |34 as shown in Fig. 12 and when in its lower position asin Figs. ,12 and 20 its lower end portion |43 extends under the lowerend of plate |34 so as to engage the front wall of member |25 as shownin Fig. 16, and serves to hold the guide bar within the housing as wellas hold member |25 in normal staple guiding position.

At its upper end the locking plate |44 includes a relatively thin ornarrow neck-like portion |45 projecting through the open ended slot |4|in the upper end of cover |35 and beyond such cover the neck-likeportion carries a hand piece |46 which may, if desired, be moulded tosaid portion. The plunger |29 together with the driver |32 and the plate|34 are vertically movable at the inner side of the locking plate andthe plunger is guided in its movements between the side walls ||0 of theinner frame and between the locking plate |44 and the inturned ends oranges |41 (Fig. 13) of plates |48 which may be welded or otherwisesecured to the frame sides I0. The slidable locking plate |44 is cutaway on its opposite side edges as shown at |44a (Fig. 22) to formclearance for ears |31 and |31a and the shoulders |44b formed at thelower ends of these notches engage the ears to limit the upward movementof the plate. Associated with the plunger is a safety means comprisingthe pawl 68 and the spring 12 and associated parts functioning as andfor the purpose described in connection with the iirst form of theinvention.

A hand operating member |49 includes side flanges |50 which enterbetween the housing walls |09, and a pin |5| passing through saidflanges and the upper portion of plunger |29 secures the operatingmember to the latter. 'I'he inner or rear end portion |52 (Fig. 12) ofthe operating member is disposed under the forward edge portion of thehousing top wall |08 and such operating member closes the space betweenthe upper edges of the forward portion of the side walls |09 of thehousing. A coil spring |53 serves to return the plunger and theoperating member |49 to their normal or retracted positions after theyhave been depressed to have driver |32 drive a staple through theraceway |24.

When the machine is to be reloaded with staples the locking plate |44 ismoved upwardly so as to position its lower end portion |43 above vtheopening |42 as shown in Fig. 14 whereupon the guide bar and magazine ||4may be drawn outwardly to the position of Figs. 13 and 14. A screw |54secured to the rear end of the guide bar ||4 passes through a slot |55(Fig. 25) in a plate |56 and has anchored to it one end of a small coilspring |51 the other end of which is anchored to a lug |58 at theforward end of said plate |56. At the rear end of the plate there is anupturned portion |59, and when the guide bar is within the housing suchend |59 bears against the rear wall |60 of the housing (Fig. 12) wherebythe forward end of the plate is l moved forwardly with respect to screw|54 thereby tensioning spring |51. With this arrangement as soon as thelocking plate |44 is elevated as above described to release the guidebar H4, plate |56 actuated by spring |51 will function as a kicker tomove the guide bar outwardly of the housing a sufcient distance where itmay be grasped and pulled out to its fully extended position for loadingthe staple strip into it.

Thus the operator by grasping the forward 1 end of the guide bar maydraw it forwardly to the positions shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Thereafterstaples |6| may be moved downwardly on to the guide bar as suggested byarrow Isla, v Fig. 14, so as to have the staples straddle the innerchannel member |I5. If for any reason the staples may not be so applied,the front member |25 on the end of the guide bar is swung upwardly as inFigs. 18 and 19 and then the strip |62 of staples is moved onto thechannel `member I from the end thereof as suggested by arrow |6241. inFig. 18 This may be used for straight staples, as sometimes people whohave gotten used to sliding the staple strip on to the staple guide barfrom the end wish to continue to do so, or this end loading permits theuse of a guide bar and staples in which the staple strip cannot beplaced on the bar from the top, such `for example as staples in whichinstead of the legs being parallel they are inclined inwardly as shownat |61 in Fig. 35 and the sides |68 of the guide bar |69 are taperedinwardly and downwardly in the manner disclosed in the patent to Vogel,No. 2,016,466, issued Oct. 8, 1935. When the guide bar reaches thedesired outermost position the screw 54 as shown in Fig. 14 comesagainst the inner end of the follower ||9 so that the guide bar may notbe drawn entirely out of the housing, and outward movement of thefollower is limited since the end |20 of the spring |2| is attached tothe follower and the spring passes over a plate |63 as shown best inFig. 14. After the guide bar is loaded with staples it is pressed backinto the housing again tensioning spring |51, and thereafter the lockingplate |44 is pushed down to the locking position of Figs. 12 and 20.Portions |64 are lanced from the side walls l0 of the inner frame andpressed over, as best shown in Fig. 17, so as to overlie the upper edgeof the guide bar, and particularly the channel I8 thereof, whereby toprevent any upward movement of the staples olf the guide bar. The upperedge of the opening resulting from the formation of these flanges orportions |64 is shown at |64a.

Projecting from the lower side of the guide bar at the forward endthereof is a lug |65 (Fig. 18) which may comprise the head of the screw|66 (Fig. 16), and the forward end of the bottom wall ||2 of the innerframe is notched at |61 to receive such lug whereby when the guide 75bar is in normal position it is additionally held against any lateralmovement.

When the cover member |35 has been removed the entire inner frame ||0 ofthe machine, including the guide bar and plunger means, as a unit withsuch frame, may be drawn outwardly through the forward end of thehousing so as to better expose the various parts for repairs. 'I'hebeginning of such movement is suggested Aby the dotted lines at the leftin Fig. 12.

'I'he same form of shiftable anvil 61 to give permanent or temporarysetting of the staples may be used in the form of Figs. 12 to 25 thesame as in the form of Figs. 1 to 11. In order to reassemble the partsin the housing it is but necessary to push the frame and parts carriedthereby back into the housing and to then apply driver |32 and plate |34against the front side of the plunger, position the locking plate |44and the cover |35 and then insert the pin |40.

Having thus ,set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

l. A staple driving machine including a housing, a staple driver fordriving the staples, a staple guide bar for carrying staples to saiddriver and normally enclosed in said housing, said guide bar beinglongitudinally shiftable to and from an exposed position to permit ofloading of the bar while in said exposed position, means for feeding thestaples along the guide bar to driving position under the driver, andreleasable means normally securing the bar in its enclosed position.

2. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple guide bar, a racewayat the forward end of the guide bar to which staples are to be fed fromsaid guide bar, means for driving staples through said raceway, saidhousing enclosing said guide bar, said guide bar being longitudinallymovable with respect to said enclosing housing whereby the guide bar maybe withdrawn from the enclosing housing for loading, and releasablemeans normally securing the guide bar within the enclosing housing.

3. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple guide bar in saidhousing, a raceway, a follower for moving staples along said guide barto said raceway, means for driving staples through said raceway, saidguide bar being longitudinally movable to a position projecting fromsaid housing and in which position staples may be placed on the guidebar, and means normally locking the guide bar in position within thehousing.

4. In a staple driving machine, a housing including side walls, anelongated tubular member in the lower portion of said housing betweensaid side walls, a staple guide bar normally within said member butWithdrawable therefrom for loading, said member including an upper wallpreventing upward movement of staples off the guide bar while the latteris in normal position, said guide bar having a shoulder, a pawl, springmeans maintaining said pawl in position engaging said shoulder wherebyto secure said guide bar in its normal position, and means operable fromthe outer side of said housing to shift said pawl against the action ofsaid spring to release the guide bar.

5. In a staple driving machine, a housing including side walls, anelongated tubular member in the lower portion of said housing betweensaid walls, a staple guide bar normally within said member butlongitudinally movable through the forward end thereof to a loadingposition, a spring actuated follower on said guide bar for urgingstaples therealong towardthe forward end thereof, means normallyretaining the guide bar within said tubular member and manuallyreleasable to permit movement of the bar to the loading position, meansproviding a stop shoulder adjacent the forward end of said member, andmeans on said follower engageable with said stop shoulder when thefollower reaches a forwardmosty position whereby to prevent the followermoving out of the member as the guide bar is being moved through theforward end thereof to the loading position.

6. In a staple driving machine, an elongated tubular member, a stapleguide bar normally within said member but longitudinally movable throughthe forward end thereof for loading, manually releasable means forretaining said guide ,bar in normal position, and cooperatingpositioning means between said memben and guide bar and comprising achannel in one and a projection on the other whereby to insure properpositioning of the guide bar within the member.

"7. In a staple driving machine, an elongated tubular member, a stapleguide bar normally within said member but movable through the forwardend thereof for loading, a follower on said guide bar, a spring normallyurging the follower along the guide bar toward the forward end thereof,manually releasable means normally retaining the guide bar within themember, said tubular member having an opening in its upper wallproviding a shoulder adjacent its forward end, said follower includingan element mounted on the follower body for movement relative thereto,said means including a projecting portion, said spring normally engagingsaid element for moving the follower along the guide bar and maintainingthe projecting portion of the element against the upper side of thetubular member whereby as the follower reaches the forward end of thetubular member the action of the spring on said element shifts the sameto cause the projecting portion thereof to enter said opening in the topwall of the member to prevent movement of the follower out of saidmember.

8. In a staple driving machine, a staple guide bar, a raceway to whichstaples are to be fed from said guide bar, means for driving staplesthrough said raceway, a housing normally enclosing said guide bar andstaple driving means, said guide bar being movable longitudinallythrough the forward end of said housing to expose a portion of the guidebar whereby the latter may be loaded with staples, manually shiftablemeans normally securing the guide bar within the housing, means on theforward end of the guide bar and carried thereby and cooperatingtherewith to form a wall of said raceway, and said means being yieldablysecured to said guide bar whereby to be capable of movement outwardlywith respect thereto to permit of an oversized staple being driventhrough said raceway.

9. In a staple driving machine, a staple guide bar, a raceway to whichstaples are fed from said guide bar, means for driving staples throughsaid raceway, a housing normally enclosing said guide bar and stapledriving means, said guide bar being movable through the forward end ofsaid housing to an outer position, manually shiftable means normallysecuring the guide bar within the housing, means carried on the forwardend of the guide bar and cooperating therewith when the guide bar is innormal position to form the forward wall of said raceway, and pivotsmounting said means on the guide bar whereby when the latter is in anouter position the means may be shifted relative to the guide bar toclear the end thereof to permit of the loading of the guide bar by themovement of staples on to the same in the forward end thereof.

10. In a staple rdriving machine, a housing, said housing having a'raceway therein, means in said housing for feeding staples to saidraceway, means in said housing for driving staples through said raceway,a base, an anvil on the forward portion of said base, said base havingan opening in the upper side thereof toward its rear end, a springsecured to the base and projecting above said opening, an upstanding earon the base at each side of said opening, a pair of depending ears onthe lower side of said housing adjacent the rear'end thereof,cooperating means on the ears of the base and the ears on the housingwhereby the housing may be readily mounted on or removed from the base,said cooperating means comprising a cross pin carried by one of saidpairs of ears and bayonet slots in the other pair of ears for receivingsaid pin, and said spring serving when the housing is on the base toyieldingly maintain the parts in relation with said pin in the closedend portions of said slots.

-1l. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple driving plunger inthe housing, a staple guide bar within the housing to supply staples tothe plunger and mounted for sliding movement in the housing, means forfeeding staples along the guide bar to a position to be driven by theplunger, said housing having an opening in an end thereof and throughwhich the guide bar may be projected for loading, means normally holdingthe guide bar within said housing, and means preventing completewithdrawal of the guide bar from the housing when the guide bar isprojected for loading.

12. In a staple driving machine, a. housing, said housing having araceway therein, means /in the housing for feeding staples to theraceway,

means in the housing for driving staples through the raceway, a basehaving a top wall portion convexly curved in a direction transversely ofthe plane of the staple, an anvil mounted on said curved portion andprovided with two sets of recesses to cooperate with the driving meansfor permanent and temporary setting of the staples, said anvil beingconvexly curved similarly to the curvature of the base and beingslidable thereon to bring either set of recesses into alignment with thedriving means, and means for retaining the anvil in the differentpositions.

13. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple guide bar withinsaid housing, said housing having an opening in an end thereof andthrough which said guide bar may be partially withdrawn for loading, amovable locking plate normally closing said opening and maintaining theguide bar within the housing, and means at the outer side of saidhousing and operable to shift said plate to permit of movement of theguide bar through said opening.

i4. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a staple guide bar withinsaid housing, said housing having an opening in the forward end thereofand through which said guide bar may be partially withdrawn for loading,a slidable locking plate on the forward end of said housing and normallyclosing said opening and maintaining the guide bar within the housing,means at the outer side of said housing and operable to shift said plateto expose said opening, and a spring actuated kicker means on said guidebar and normally urging the same toward said opening whereby as saidplate is shifted to expose the opening the bar is partially projectedthrough the latter by the kicker means.

15. In -a staple driving machine, a housing. a staple guide bar withinsaid housing, said housing having an opening in the forward end thereofand through which said guide bar may be partially withdrawn for loading,a slidable locking .plate on the forward end of said housing andnormally closing said opening and maintaining the guide bar within thehousing, means at the outer side of said housing and operable to shiftsaid plate to expose said opening, kicker means associated with saidguide bar and normally urging the same toward said opening whereby asthe latter is exposed on movement of said plate the guide bar ispartially projected through the opening, said kicker means comprising aslotted plate having an end bearing against the rear wall of saidhousing, a stud secured to the guide bar and projecting through the slotof the plate, and a coil spring anchored at its forward end to theforward end of said plate and at its rear end to said stud whereby thespring is tensioned while the guide bar is within the housing.

16. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a frame within the housing,a guide bar in said frame, means defining a raceway at the forward endof said guide bar, follower means on the guide bar for moving staplestherealong toward said raceway, means on said frame and operable todrive staples through said raceway, said housing including a cover-likefront wall, means removably securing said front wall to the housing,

and said frame and all parts carried thereby being slidable out of saidhouisng through the forward end thereof on removal of said front wall.

17. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a frame within the housing,a guide bar in said frame, means defining a raceway at the forward endof said guide bar, follower means on the guide bar for moving staplestherealong toward said raceway, means on said frame and operable todrive staples through said raceway, said frame including side wallportions, and flanges lanced and pressed from said side wall portionsand disposed to extend partly over the upper side of said guide barwhereby to prevent upward movement of the staples thereon.

18. In a staple driving machine, a housing having a raceway therein. astaple guide bar within said housing, means for moving staples alongsaid bar to said raceway, said housing having an opening in the forwardend thereof and through which said guide bar may be partly withdrawn forloading, a locking plate having a resilient yieldable portion normallyclosing said opening and maintaining the guide bar Within the housing,means for shifting said plate to expose said opening, means at theforward end of said guide bar and normally forming a side of saidraceway and bearing against said locking plate, and means connectingsaid means with the guide bar in a manner to permit of limited outwardmovement of said means away from the end of the guide bar whereby topermit of an oversized staple being driven through said raceway.

19. In a staple driving machine, a housing having a raceway therein, astaple guide bar within said housing, means for moving staples alongsaid b ar to said raceway, said housing hav- `ing an opening in theforward end thereof and through` which said guide bar may be partlywithdrawn for loading, a locking plate having a resilient yieldableportion normally closing said opening and maintaining the guide barwithin the housing, means for shifting said plate to expose saidopening, a guide member pivoted to the forward end of said guide bar andnormally forming the forward wall of said raceway, said guide memberbeing mounted on the guide bar for limited movement away from the end ofthe bar, and said locking plate when in closing position backing up saidguide member to retain itin normal position and permit it to moveoutwardly to allow staples of thicker wire to pass through the racewaFRIDOLIN POLZER. LESTER. L. WHEELER. ROY E. PETERSON.

